| Finding and Using Smartphone Applications that Can Improve Business Operations Richard Torian August 17, 2011 I. Introduction. The purpose of this article is to identify smartphone applications which are designed to help business operations. The smartphone, such as the iPhone and the BlackBerry and phones using Google and Microsoft operating systems, represent a powerful business tool. Because of its mobility combined with its other features as a recorder of information (e.g. video, sound, text), a connector to the Internet and other systems, and a powerful computer, the smartphone business tool is being used to change and improve business operations. The impact of the smartphone on business operations should continue to grow and continue to be extraordinary. Identifying business-oriented applications will hopefully benefit the reader. Extensive searching of the Internet was done using several search terms to find approximately 40 smartphone applications with interesting business-related uses. The search was designed to find examples of applications covering a wide spectrum of business operations. For example, searches were made for field services, facility operations, sales and marketing, back office operations, and retail sales applicatons. Also, the search focused on a composite business, i.e., one that conducts field and other services, has facilities, e.g. warehouses, does sales and marketing, and does manufacturing. No attempt was made to find all applications designed for any one specific purpose. For example, many vendors have produced applications for receiving credit card payments on a smartphone. This article only identifies a few of these vendors as a sampling of applications that are available for receiving credit card payments. Also, the article does not evaluate the applications that are identified. However, application selections were biased towards the quality of information on the application, e.g., a separate, well-designed vendor’s web page describing the application or where user ratings were available and the ratings were high or where reviewers, such as by bloggers, praised an application. Also, no attempt was made to identify smartphone applications that are primarily intended to assist the individual as a personal assistant. For example, no applications were sought for this article that help an individual travel. Many of the applications may be only available for a particular phone, e.g. the iPhone or the BlackBerry. No attempt was made to find applications on the basis of whether the application is available for one or more phones. Many applications identified, but not all, can be used on multiple phones. The article is more concerned with identifying types of business-related applications that are available. Hopefully, if a successful application is only available on one smartphone brand, soon the application, or a similar application, will be available on other smartphone brands. The planning behind this article was influenced by thinking of the small business as a composite business with less than 50 employees. This thinking concluded that a well-designed and well-implemented strategy of smartphone application use by the small business could be a substantial business enhancer. It is for such a business that this article is intended. The article hopefully might serve as a contributor to a business’s development of its smartphone application use strategy by identifying possibilities not previously considered. In the next section, approximately 40 smartphone applications are identified. Links are provided to a description of each application. Also present at the link for most, if not all, applications is an ability to download the application to a smartphone. Section II. Smartphone Applications for Business. This section identifies more than 40 smartphone applications for business. Business use of the application is described and a link to a web page is provided where additional information on the application is found. At many of the pages, if not all, the smartphone application can be downloaded to a smartphone. As described in Section I, an Internet search for these applications was conducted and was based on keywords related to business segments and operations such as field services, sales, banking, and others. Once the applications to include in the article were selected, a decision on how to present the applications shifted from presenting them by business segments and operations to presenting them by smartphone and application function. The applications were thought of in terms of what function the application provided, regardless of where it was used in the business. How did the application function on the smartphone to assist the business, regardless of what segments or operations of the business it was used in? Thinking of the application in terms of the related function led to identifying the following 10 functions that a smartphone provides based on the identified applications: Calculation Communication between company personnel Connectivity to external systems Connectivity to company systems Customer interactions Deliveries Finding information Recording information for later use Tasks and projects Troubleshooting and problem solving These 10 functions demonstrate how powerful a smartphone can be as a business tool. Using these functions could help in finding how to apply a smartphone in ways not previously applied. For example, one of the functions is connecting to external systems, such as banks. Obviously, a smartphone is quite capable of doing this function of connecting to an external system, since so many smartphones connect to bank systems. So, an expansion of the smartphone’s value to a company might be to identify other external systems, such as vendor systems, that would be valuable for the business to connect to. With this as an example, a good strategic review of a company’s smartphone application use and use improvement possibilities might be to think of each function and analyze where within the company a smartphone can be applied to perform the function. Then, look for applications that might be available for that purpose, or consider having a custom application developed. The following identifies smartphone applications within each of the 10 functions, makes comments about the application, and provides a link to more information and possible application download to a smartphone. 1. Calculation. Among other functions, the smartphone is capable of functioning as a computer to carry out computations. Examples are its ability to serve as a unique calculator (http://www.sfr-software.de/cms/EN/pocketpc/sfr-calculator/, from SFR Software) and to process computations that are unique. An example of a unique computation application is from The Apps Pod, described at this link, https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/18773. This application assists in the tricky computation involving percentages, where incorrect answers can lead to poor business decisions. ReDirack has a free application (http://www.redirack.co.uk/news/article.php?page=iphone-app) that will calculate how many pallets can be put into a defined space. Wherever a computation, or any quantitative analysis, is currently being done around the company think about how using a smartphone could get the result of that computation and analysis much quicker, at the location where the result and analysis can be used in real time, and at less burden by an application especially designed for the computation or analysis. Then seek out an application for what you need. 2. Communication between Company Personnel. The smartphone greatly enhances how company personnel can quickly, while on-the-go, communicate with one another. Besides making phone calls to one another, the smartphone can do such tasks as recording a voice message and then converting the message to an email and sending the email. This can be a convenient alternative in many situations where a phone call is inconvenient. Nuance provides an application that does this, described at this link, http://www.dragonmobileapps.com/bb/dragonforemail.html. Some company communication needs may be best met by involving several people connected together simultaneously, but not in one location. Neatcall can find a best time for all to be involved in a conference call. More information on Neatcall can be found at this link, http://www.neatcall.com/. 3. Connectivity to External Systems. Besides the ability to increase communication between individuals, a smartphone with applications can very effectively communicate with other computers and systems. Being able to communicate and use other systems while on the go is a tremendous business performance enhancer. Company personnel can communicate with systems outside the company, examples of which are provided in this paragraph, and with systems owned by the company, described in 4 below. An excellent example of how valuable communicating with systems external to the company is the use of the smartphone to access the company’s bank accounts and to request bank account transactions. Most bigger banks, if not all, offer smartphone applications for this function, such as the Wells Fargo and Chase applications described at these two sites, https://www.wellsfargo.com/mobile/, and, https://www.chase.com/online/services/mobile-banking.htm. 4. Connectivity to Company Systems. Using the smartphone to connect to other company computers (e.g. desktops) and systems open up many possible advantages to the company. Information in a desktop can now be quickly accessed by using an application such as Logmein (https://secure.logmein.com/products/ignition/) and Wyse (http://www.wyse.com/products/software), applications which will allow access to the desktop from the smartphone. Some software companies have smartphone applications that will allow the smartphone to go directly to that company’s software on the desktop and to quickly use the software from the smartphone. Intuit has smartphone applications (https://intuitlabs.com/experiments/quickbooks-online-iphone and https://intuitlabs.com/experiments/quickbooks-online-blackberry) that does this. Another company with applications allowing direct access to software on a desktop is Wireless Merchant (http://www.wirelessmerchant.com/wm-transactions and http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/18832?lang=en). The French company eboo has a smartphone application (http://www.eboo.fr/videosurveillance/UK/eboomobile.php) that will allow viewing on the smartphone scenes being recorded on company cameras. 5. Customer Interactions. A key function of any company is the interaction the company has with its customers. Whatever can improve this costumer interaction function would contribute value to the company. Several smartphone applications are available which can improve a company’s interaction with its customer. Several applications allow the smartphone to record and process customer credit card payments. With such an application, a company employee can take a payment anywhere, using a smartphone. Example of smartphone applications for processing credit card payments are PocketPay (http://www.pocketpay.me/) and Apriva with ATT (http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/business-programs/small/solutions/industry-solutions/mobile-productivity-solutions/apriva.jsp). Expanding on the ability to take credit card payments with a smartphone is being able to process the sale using a point of sale system DecisionPoint offers an application (http://www.decisionpt.com/Mobile-Point-of-Sale) that can be placed on a smartphone that will process the sale like a point of sale system and transfer that sale data to the desktop accounting system. In some situations, away from the office, providing a potential customer a written statement (a proposal) of what will be delivered to the customer if the customer accepts the proposal might be very useful. Proposal Software has an application (http://www.proposalsoftware.com/webpro_mobile_microsite/index_us.html) that allows the creation of a proposal which then can be emailed to the customer. Providing the on-the-go, mobile sales team support through their smartphones could enhance the sales person’s interaction with the customer. Swyft Technology has a sales team application (http://www.getswyft.com/salesforce/) for this purpose. An application from Boopsie (http://www.boopsie.com/) allows the quick loading of a company’s inventory items and associated information on to a smartphone, where the database can then be used to answer customer questions. The Boopsie application can be used for loading any compnay list (database). A company might benefit from sponsoring an event for a group of customers and potential customers. A product from Newtonstrand (http://www.newtonstrand.com/mobile-event.html) can be used to provide to those event attendees an application they can use on their smartphones to have an improved experience at the event. 6. Deliveries. Getting the company’s product to the customer is an important function of a successful company. Smartphone applications can be an integral part of this function. Third party shippers now have applications for the customer’s smartphone which allow the customer to stay current on the status of the company products being shipped. Examples are an application, http://www.ups.com/upsmobile/, from UPS and an application, http://crackberry.com/logistics-provider-damco-releases-blackberry-smartphone-application, from Damco Freight. ECI Software Solutions has a smartphone application (http://www.ecisolutions.com/products/del/rt/default.htm) which helps the delivery person with the route, providing the information needed in the delivery, and notifying the office when delivery is complete. 7. Finding information. The smartphone can be used, like any good computer with access to the Internet, to find needed information. Because of the mobility of the smartphone, company personnel can have access to information when most needed, when they are on the job, faced with a problem, where real time access meets the immediate requirements for information. Using a good search engine is a primary example of how the smartphone can be put to use when at a job site and a need for an answer to a question comes up. The following three links demonstrate the breath of information that can be found using the smartphone: a. http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2010/12/16/atm-smart-phone-apps/. Several applications can find the locations of ATMs. This demonstrates how applications might be used to assist company personnel in finding specific destinations. b. http://www.navigon.com/portal/us/buy_now/mobilenavigator.html. With an application from Navigon, the smartphone can be used as a navigational device (GPS technology) to find directions to an ATM and other destinations once those locations are known. c. http://www.sitewiseapp.com/. An application from Tetrad Computer Applications, called sitewise, provides demographics data for an area selected on the application. This is just one example of likely dozens of applications that are, or will be, available to quickly provide customized information and data to smartphones users. A good strategic process related to company smartphone use would be to recognize what customized information and data company personnel might need in their work processes and then search for or have applications developed to meet those needs. 8. Recording Information for Later Use. Continuous improvement is a universally accepted management objective for a business. An important component of continuous improvement, it seems to me, is to generate ideas related to improvement and then to implement those ideas. However, ideas are often generated and then forgotten. Applications for smartphones make the recording of ideas (information) in a variety of formats very easy, so that the information is less likely to be forgotten. This application, https://store.griffintechnology.com/italk-premium, called iTalk, from Griffin, records voice. The Androgeek blog, at this site, http://androgeek.com/, reviews several voice recording applications. The smartphone can also snap pictures, which then become a permanent reminder of information that can be used later. The application described here, http://sites.google.com/site/androidreceipts/, and called Android Receipts Scanner, takes pictures of paperwork, such as receipts. The pictures can be easily emailed. More than ideas are important to keep a record of in a business. Tracking and recording time spent on a task can easily be done with a smartphone application such as HoursTracking, described at this link, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hourstracker-time-sheet/id321923934?mt=8. Applications are also available that can record email and phone activity by a smartphone, such as this application, http://www.blacktrackapp.com/, called BlackTrack. Such an activity record can be an important reminder. It is likely that as company operations are analyzed in a strategic review, several procedures, which can be enhanced by recording information at the time of the procedure, will be identified. Keeping in mind the concept of “information recording” as an important company function and using a smartphone, should lead to ways in which a smartphone can add value to a company. 9. Tasks and Projects. A function of every successful business is the management of tasks and projects. This function is critical for business success. Smartphone applications have been developed to assist in task and project management. Two examples are, ToDoMatrix, described here, http://rexwireless.com/todomatrix/, and easyTasker, described here, http://www.easytasker.com/index.php. Combining the mobility of a smartphone with the capacity of a computer to track, filter, and deliver information related to one’s task and schedule should greatly enhance successful completion of tasks and projects. 10. Troubleshooting and Problem Solving. Because of the smartphone capabilities, it can serve as a powerful tool to help in troubleshooting. For example, pictures can be taken of the trouble and emailed to others who lend their expertise to the analysis of the trouble. The Internet can be searched for finding what others are reporting about similar troubles. The Internet has become a location where people go to discuss problems on a large numbers of topics. Many professions and disciplines have forums where questions and answers are substantial. Videos are on the Internet that show problems and solutions. For example, a heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) professional addressing a problem at a customer’s site might be assisted by smartphone applications written for the HVAC community. This link, http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/search/hvac?lang=en, goes to several HVAC-related applications available from the BlackBerry application store. Many websites, blogs, forums, and videos, which an Internet search from the smartphone can find, address HVAC problems and solutions. When a HVAC professional is working on a problem at a site, the professional with a smartphone is now not limited just to his knowledge, but, with an ability to analyze the problem and good smartphone use and Internet search skills, has an excellent chance of finding help on the Internet while still at the source of the problem. This can greatly expand the professional’s productivity, adding great value to the company. This discussion in the last paragraph, about troubleshooting and problem solving by the HVAC professional, is not just limited to one professional field. The discussion is likely true for most professions. Whatever the company businesses are, services and/or products, it is likely that smartphone applications and Internet research can benefit that company’s troubleshooting and problem solving needs. III. How I Can Help You. Sections I and II stress the need for a company to analyze its business in terms of how a smartphone can help the various functions carried out in the business. Identifying functions carried out in the business where smartphone applications can be used will help the company. I can help the company by searching for applications or application developers that meet the company’s needs. Also, this article only deals with the smartphones. Because of the screen size of a tablet, like the Apple iPad, which also serves as a mobile device like the smartphone, developers are able to produce applications that can be used on the tablet which do not work on a smartphone. I can provide you an article, like this article, on using applications design for the tablet mobile device to improve business operations. If you are interested in how I can help you, or want to comment on this article, please email me by clicking here. |